By Lucy Ashton
Jackie Baillie has given her support to Time to Talk Day (Thursday, February 3rd) which aims to encourage people to open up conversations in a bid to reduce the stigma associated with mental health.
Run by See Me, which is Scotland’s Programme to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination, the annual awareness day is an important date on the calendar.
It’s the day that friends, families, communities and workplaces come together to talk, listen and ultimately change lives by creating a more open, fair and inclusive society.
With restrictions easing, it is also a chance to meet up, safely, with people who may be struggling and in need of that face-to-face conversation.
Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton constituency, pictured right, said: “I am absolutely delighted to support Time to Talk Day. I would encourage everyone in my constituency to reach out to a friend, relative, neighbour or anyone else in the community who you think could benefit just from having a conversation.
“We all recognise how difficult the last two years have been on everyone’s mental health and it is important that we are able to share how we are feeling with those around us.
“By starting that conversation, you could be making a huge difference to someone’s life. If someone is really struggling, you may even save a life.
“Talking about mental health reduces stigma, helping to create supportive communities where we can talk openly about mental health and feel empowered to seek help when we need it.”